, 1887-10-22
MAGNIFICENT GERMAN TROOPS.
The Best Blood of tho COUNTRY in the
Ranks-B1acIf Horse Cavalry.


Ranks-B1acL Horse Cavalry.
The uniforms enhance the appearance
Of the German troops. There is not an
ill fitting uniform or one of unattractive
color in the whole army. But aside from
this advantage they are g magnificent
body of men. In the ranks there is, in
one sense, the best blood of the country
strong, healthy, clean and young men.
Whether h SONS of princes or the sons
of peasants, they are young men. Most
of them are between the ages of 81 and
2j. The one distinction is that the son of
a prince serve but one year in h ranks.
He is able to furnish his outfit complete,
is no expense to the government and has
only to serve this compulsory term. The
same rule applies to any young man who
is able to furnish himself. The peasant
or working man is not able to bear this
expense, and therefore serves three years,
the government supplying everything.
But neither rank nor wealth can inter
pose if he young man, be he who he
may, is physically capable of serving.
Two SONS of Prince Bismarck rave served
in the ranks.
The two regiments of cuirassiers were
by all odds the most elegant soldiers on
the field. The uniform is of white cloth,
with silver c~uirass, and silver helmets
having on the top the silver eagle, with
wings extended. They were mounted on
black horses, making the effect the more
splendid. Fancy two such regiments
marching 100 abreast, men and horses
moving as by one impulse, and throwing
across the field a broad line of light, fairly
dazzling in the bright sunshine.
On the other hand, the dash of the
Uhlans, with their silver pears and
waving banners, rendered them quite fas-
cinating. There were several regiments
of Uhlans, the First regiment mounted
on black horses, the others on bay. The
little black and white banners, fluttering
out from the glistening spears, distin-
guished them from all other cavalry, and
one could only liken them to the old
crusaders.
The uniform of Prince Williams regi-
ment, First Hussars, is jaunty and much
trimmed. The red jacket is braided with
yellow cord. The shor coat is fastened
at the collar, and hangs loose over the left
shoulder, with the arms free from the
sleeves. 1t is of lark blue cloth, braided
across the front, and bordered with astra-
kan. Regiments of riflemen were in uni
forms of gendarme blue, trimmed with
bright scarlet. This was a decidedly hand
some combination. There were other
regiments in dark green, others in dark
blue trimmed with bright orange, and in
fantry in blue coats and white trousers.
The parade step of the German infantry
belongs to the Germany army. 1t is a
very high step, with a quick, forward
movement, or jerk of the knee. When
this goose STEP" as they call it, is by a
whole regiment, the effect is a trife
peculiar.
The pangs of hunger will even then
bring the German officer down from the
pomp and circumstance of the review to
the plane of other people with lunch
baskets. So the wives, sisters, cousins
and aunts carry loads of luncheon and
bottles of wine. The officers watch their
opportunities, and the carriages get a great
deal of attention, many being surrounded
by the gay uniforms much of the time.
OF course there were sweethearts in the
carriages, but the sight of the gay officers
on horseback examining down sandwiches
did not present a spectacle of sentiment
or devotion. The German officer may be
a man of poetry when he is not hungry,
but all the bright eyes and sweet smiles
in Berlin cannot turn him from his sand
witch or smoked sausage.-Berlin Cor.
New York Sun.